
Western Power Distribution Stakeholder Workshop: Distributed Generation 3rd November 2015 Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 4 2 Overview of the workshop ......................................................................................... 6 3 Summary of feedback ............................................................................................... 8 4 Summary of suggested initiatives and recommendations ....................................... 12 5 Workshop 1: Challenges and key areas of focus for 2015 ......................................... 14 5.1 What has your experience of applying for a connection with WPD been like? .... 14 5.2 Do you think that WPD have correctly identified the key emerging issues? ....... 26 5.3 How rigidly should the rules be enforced and when is it appropriate to terminate an offer? ..................................................................................................................... 36 5.4 What has been your experience of the statement of works process? ................ 49 5.5 Do you have any comments on WPD’s approach on future forecasting? ............ 57 5.6 Any other comments? ....................................................................................... 65 6 Workshop 2: Quicker, more efficient connections – WPD’s improvement plan in detail .......................................................................................................................... 67 6.1 Do you have any comments on the actions for the communications and engagement section of the ICE work plan? ................................................................. 67 6.2 Do you have any comments on the actions for availability of information and online services section of the ICE work plan? ............................................................. 78 6.3 Do you have any comments on the actions for service provided post connection offer acceptance section of the ICE work plan? .......................................................... 86 6.4 Do you have any comments on the actions for extension of contestability section of the ICE work plan? .................................................................................................. 92 6.5 Do you have any comments on the actions for offers and agreements section of the ICE work plan? ...................................................................................................... 99 6.6 Do you have any comments on the actions for the innovation section of the ICE work plan? ................................................................................................................ 106 6.7 Any other comments? ..................................................................................... 112 7 Written feedback................................................................................................... 115 8 Surgeries on specific topics .................................................................................. 121 Competition in Connections ........................................................................... 121 8.2 Consortium Connections ................................................................................ 122 8.3 Statement of Works ........................................................................................ 123 Page 2 of 125 8.3 Consents and Legals ...................................................................................... 124 8.4 Alternative Connections ................................................................................. 125 Page 3 of 125 1 Introduction On 3rd November 2015, Western Power Distribution (WPD) hosted its second stakeholder workshop specifically for its distributed generation stakeholders. The event was held at Villa Park, Birmingham. In recent years, there has been a huge increase in distributed generation (DG) connections, with the trend expected to continue. In response to this, and stakeholders’ feedback on the Incentive on Connection Engagement (ICE) Plan, WPD held their inaugural DG workshop in November 2014. The second workshop, one year on, represented an opportunity for stakeholders to raise issues they have experienced in the DG connections process over the last 12 months and comment on WPD’s updated ICE Plan. The ICE Plan1 and WPD’s full submission2 can be read on their website. WPD appointed specialist stakeholder engagement consultancy, Westbourne (WB), to facilitate the stakeholder workshop on its behalf. WB carried out a thorough audit of all WPD’s DG stakeholders, producing a database of 875 contacts, each of whom were invited to the event. In addition, relevant trade associations and membership organisations were sent an invitation and encouraged to circulate this to their members. 1 http://www.westernpower.co.uk/docs/About-us/Stakeholder-information/Connection-Customer-Engagement/ICE- workplan-Oct2015-resub-v2-for-printing.aspx 2 http://www.westernpower.co.uk/docs/About-us/Stakeholder-information/Connection-Customer- Engagement/ICE/WPD-ICE-submission-2015_16-FINAL.aspx Page 4 of 125 The format of the workshop was a series of presentations by senior WPD representatives followed by roundtable sessions. Each of the roundtable sessions was facilitated by trained Westbourne (WB) facilitators and comments were noted by scribes. Where possible, verbatim quotes have been noted by the WB scribes. However, in order to ensure that all stakeholders could speak as candidly and openly as possible, comments were not attributed to individuals. On each of the tables, a member of WPD staff was on hand to answer technical questions. A copy of the presentation given on the day can be found on WPD’s website3. 3 http://www.westernpower.co.uk/docs/About-us/Stakeholder-information/November-2015-workshop/DG-Stakeholder- Workshop-November-2015-V10.aspx Page 5 of 125 2 Overview of the workshop There were two discussion sessions within the overall workshop that provided an opportunity for stakeholders to give feedback on the connections process and their experience of DG applications, as well as review the ICE plan and the actions WPD had identified in it. Session 1. Challenges and key areas of focus for 2015. This session focused on the key issues facing the connections process for distributed generation. Session 2. Quicker, more efficient connections – WPD’s improvement plan in detail. This discussion focused on the six sections of WPD’s ICE Plan 2015/16. In the afternoon there were four surgery sessions, which provided stakeholders with the opportunity to receive updates from WPD, and give their feedback, on a number of technical aspects of the connections process. Attendees A total of 66 DG stakeholders attended the workshop from sectors including: community interest companies; connections companies; direct customers; developers/installers; government bodies; industry consultancies; law firms; membership organisations; technology/innovation companies; universities; and utilities companies. The organisations represented were as follows:- Aardvark EM Ltd Hallmark Power Limited Alstom Grid Hermes Energy Services Anesco Inazin Power Belectric Solar Ltd J Sainsbury Plc Country Land and Business Lightsource Renewable Energy Association LR Senergy Conergy UK Ltd Martifer Solar UK Coventry University Morrison Utility Connections Department of Energy & Climate National Grid Change Northern Powergrid DNV GL - Energy Norvento Wind Energy UK Dragon Infrastructure Solutions Ltd O'Connor Utilities E.ON Energy Osborne Clarke Eaton Peak Gen Power Limited Electricity North West Power On Connections ENER-G Powercon UK Excellent Consultancy Ltd Regen SW Geldards LLP Renewable Developments Wales GF Energy Renewable Energy Association Good Energy Renewable Power Systems Page 6 of 125 RES Stephens Scown Roadnight Taylor Ltd SunEdison Rolton Group TUSC Ltd RWE npower UK Power Reserve S&C Electric Europe Ltd University of Warwick Siemens Transmission And Distribution Ltd Smart Metering Systems Social Power Partnerships SP Energy Networks Page 7 of 125 3 Summary of feedback 66 stakeholders attended on the day and 55 provided written feedback. 100% of stakeholders who provided written feedback told us they found the workshop to be either ‘very interesting’ or ‘interesting’. 100% of stakeholders who provided written feedback ‘strongly agreed’ or ‘agreed’ that we covered the right topics on the day. ‘Dealing with network constraints’ was identified as the key emerging issue by stakeholders. 26 stakeholders (equating to 55% of those who answered the question) would consider taking an alternative connections offer, while only three (equating to 7%) said they would not. Workshop 1. Challenges and key areas of focus for 2015 Stakeholders were initially asked about their experience of applying for a connection with WPD. The response was generally positive and a number of stakeholders said they were still the best DNO to engage with on the connections and applications process. There is still, however, a lot of room for improvement. Experiences were generally better when early contact, particularly face-to-face, was established in advance of the application, helping stakeholders plan timelines and develop a direct relationship with a WPD staff member who is accountable for that connection. The speed of WPD’s response, in the quote and the post-acceptance stage, was flagged as an area for improvement.
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